Kevin Reddick is done with school. Now he can focus on the rest of his career.

The New Bern grad, one of college football’s top linebackers, is working on improving his stock for April’s NFL draft.

Reddick was second on North Carolina’s football team with 85 tackles this season. He also recorded 6.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for losses and forced two fumbles.

He will play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 26 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The Senior Bowl is one of the premiere college football all-star games.

It will be televised on the NFL Network.

Reddick will be joined by teammate Sylvester Williams, a defensive lineman for the Tar Heels.

“It’s an honor to get invited,” Reddick said. “It’s big time for me. I get to go out there and showcase my talents.

“This is a once in a lifetime thing. I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Reddick is projected as the seventh best linebacker in the nation, and a fourth to fifth round selection in the NFL draft, according to CBSSports.com.

With scouts, general managers and coaches from all 32 NFL teams on hand, Reddick is hoping the Senior Bowl will give him a boost.

He leaves for Mobile on Saturday, and has a full week of practice leading up to the game.

“I’m going to take no prisoners,” Reddick said. “I’m going to go in there and be focused, be mentally prepared and physically prepared to go out there and play my best. I’m going to be professional about everything, and hopefully the outcome will turn out good for me.”

Reddick was a four-year starter for the Tar Heels. He has 36 career tackles for losses.

He was a Butkus Award candidate, an honor given to the nation’s best linebacker, at the

start of his senior season.

He had 275 career tackles.

Reddick was a team captain on the Tar Heels’ defense. The Senior Bowl is just one more step in reaching his goal of playing professional football.

“I’m just going to go out there and do what I do best, and that’s to go out there and make plays, make good reads and look like a professional,” Reddick said.

Reddick’s been training in Florida. Following the Senior Bowl, he will have combines and the Pro Timing Day at UNC in March.

He has plenty of motivation to carry him throughout the process.

“I have a daughter (Kamalani). I have to make sure she is good in life,” Reddick said. “Coming from where I come from, everybody doesn’t get an opportunity like this. When we do get an opportunity like this, we need to take advantage of it and make the best of our situation.”

With a lot on the line, Reddick insists he is not feeling any pressure.

“I’m going in there to do what I’ve been doing and do what I’ve been taught, and go in there willing to be coached,” he said. “We are going to see what happens at this Senior Bowl.

Hopefully I perform well and do good at the combine, and see where that takes me next in life.

Reddick played a huge role in New Bern’s 4-AA state championship run in 2007. He was the game’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the Bears’ 28-17 win over Charlotte Independence in Winston-Salem.